SPORTING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5030, 16 August 1894, Page 3

SPORTING.

North Canterbury Hunt Steeplechase Club. . The North Canterbury Hunt Steeplechase meeting will be held at Amberley on Thursday, In former years the meeting has been held on the Seadown Estate, but this year Mr F. Courage's pretty coarse is not available, and the gathering will be on the old Amberley flat racecourse, which is situated about three-quarters of a mile from Grey's Boad railway station, and about three miles from Amberley. The starts for the various races will take place on the course proper, of which about half a mile is used to start with, besides the straight run in at the finish. About a quarter of a mile beyond the winning post the plough, in which is situated a broom hedge, commences. After getting out of the plough and on to the grass there is a post and rail fence to be negotiated, and then—directly on the opposite side of the course to the stand— ia a double of broom hedges. Then comes another post and rail fence, then some more plough, in which are two brush fenceß, and so on to the flat course one-quarter of a mile from home. There is a double 01 brushed hurdles in front of the winning post. These prill, of course, be removed after they have been negotiated once. The steeplechase course, which was laid out by Messrs G. B." Starkey, R< J. Parson and I\ Courage, is one mile and a half less three chains in circumference, so that the principal event will be started about bix chains down the straight, and the first fence will be the double opposite the stand. In both fine and wet weather the going is good, and the fences, although strong, are negotiable by any good hunter. The flat racecourse is a miie in circumference. A

speoial train will run from Christcburch to Amberley on the morning of the meet- , ing, and ihQti will be plenty of convey • ancea to carry Decile to the couree.